On Thursday, September 28th, Rich and I would’ve celebrated our 27th Wedding Anniversary. As I’ve shared in my bi-line and bio below, we celebrated our 25th anniversary up at the Jersey Shore, also spending time cleaning out my family home in Hackensack to prepare for its sale. It was a special time spent with people […]
About Lisa Begin-Kruysman
A “Weekness” For Dogs
Sometime around 2009, I came across an observance called National Dog Week. Founded by a man named Captain Wm. Lewis Judy in 1928, this intriguing slice of canine Americana fascinated me; there really was an actual seven day observance just to celebrate dogs and the humans that love them during the last week of September […]
Pleasant Beginnings
To comprehend how far we’ve moved forward after a life-changing event, it’s helpful to take a look back. I often ask myself to recall what I was doing a year, or even more, earlier at any given time. It may be difficult, but in the end it is ultimately helpful, for better or worse. This […]
Let The Cabin Chronicles Begin!
As I write this, I’m pulling together the final details for my latest “project”. I know many of my friends and neighbors have learned of my new venture, but as I’ve been cautious to share before I’ve signed on the dotted line, I’ve been concentrating on navigating the challenges of acquiring real estate, this […]
There Was Somethin’ Good Waiting Down That Road…
Happy Labor Day Weekend to my friends in the USA. For many, it is a three day weekend that marks the unofficial end of summer and the beginning of a new school year, but here in the South high temperatures will endure long in to the fall season and local kids returned to school […]
The Rerouting of Plans
With my dad’s passing in April and my mom’s return to life up north, my life has changed – with my return from Camp Widow San Diego just four weeks ago, there have been some interesting developments, and as promised I will share more when I’m able. Last week I received an interesting e-mail regarding […]
Getting Meta-physical
It’s been four weeks since I’ve returned from Camp Widow in San Diego, however, the experience of that conference still resonates and inspires. It was enlightening to cross paths with nearly 600 individuals who’ve lost their spouses, or significant others; I gained knowledge, insight and growth from presenting my Writing Work Shop which only accounted […]
“Winding” My Own Business
It is hard for me to grasp that next month marks one year that I’ve posted here at The Widow’s Voice. Each one of the “Blogging Seven” – one writer for each day of the week – offers a personal account that has evolved around the circumstances that brought them (okay us) to the […]
The “Write Tools” for Processing Grief
When I submitted my request to present at Camp Widow in Tampa and/or San Diego to Soaring Spirits International, I had a fairly good grasp of what I wanted to achieve with my presentation. When my proposal was accepted, however, I began to worry if what I had in mind would be beneficial to those […]
No Small Steps
Since I’ve returned from Camp Widow in San Diego many have asked how things went. People do find the concept of a gathering of The Widowhood to be intriguing, a circle of united souls someone recently described to me as The Worst Club with the Best Members. Really, does anyone really want that membership? I’m […]
Post Camp Coping
Today I just want to take a moment to acknowledge my Dad’s First Heavenly Birthday. He passed on April 29th and I shared his Service and legacy in a previous post. Quint was one of his biggest fans. He is truly missed by so many, especially my mom who finds herself widowed in her mid-90s. […]
When The Time is Write, So is The Dog
Sitting in the Atlanta airport waiting for my connecting flight to San Diego a couple struck up a conversation from the seats opposite me. They were chatting up the people around us and the man asked if I was looking forward to going to San Diego. I said yes. Then he asked what was bringing […]